Opportunity

Nisha is right in front of me and I can't do anything but bow. She ignores me as she passes by. She's here to heal her cut lip. What caused it? Never mind, I'll wait for her outside.

It takes half an hour until she shows up out of the door. I pull her by the hand and she says, "What are you doing? Unhand me!"

"It's me, Cancer," I whisper.

"Cancer?"

"Yes, so let's talk somewhere else."

An old abandoned room right around the corner I think is the best place to talk. Once inside, I close the door and check around if there are ears or eyes on the walls. So far, so good. It's safe.

"What are you doing here?" she asks, sounding like she's complaining but her face is worrying.

"I'm here to save you. Algron is here too."

"No, I don't need to be saved."

"Good. Now, let's get out of here."

"I can't." She turns her back on me.

"Why?"

"If you were there in the throne room, you'd know."

"That you're gonna succeed her?"

"Yes."

"And are you going to be happy with that?"

"I don't have a choice, okay?"

"You do have a choice." I walk to her and put my hand on her shoulder. I'm afraid to put the whole weight of my arm on her. My gauntlet could damage her flawless skin. "We're ought to find the Eternal Blood Chalice, remember?"

"No, it's impossible."

"Why do you think so?"

"Because the Chalice is lost along with Constantine on the edge of the world."

"Edge of the world?" I mutter. She means the edge of the Server. "Then that's good. Going there has been my purpose. We can go there together."

"No, we can't," she chuckles in absurdity, holding my hand as she turns to face me. She clears her throat and in a serious voice, she says, "We're not strong enough."

"Not now, but we'll be."

"Even Queen Carmilla herself didn't pass the first trial of the Divine Trinity Quest. How much can we?"

"I'll get us through, somehow!" I squeeze her hands firmly, showing how much I mean it. But her face shows otherwise.

"'Somehow'," she scoffs, pulling her hands from me. "That just shows how more likely for you to fail." She turns around and walks to the door. "Come back to me when you finally have a basis for your confidence, then I'll be convinced. And you better leave while you can. Queen Carmilla won't show you mercy if you get caught." She leaves the door open as she departs.

I couldn't say anything to convince her at this point. Even I find my words unconvincing. But how can I convince her? As she said, I have no basis.

After that, I spend my time as a guard patrolling outside instead of sleeping inside a coffin for a month. I don't like that. It makes me feel trapped. I don't how they got used to this.

My mind is wandering, trying to come up with a way I could've convinced her. But no matter how much I think, it won't change anything. I wish there is a way for me to show her how I feel. I feel. . . somehow. . . I'm destined to complete this quest. I just know it. But she's right. I have no evidence to prove that.

Then a scuffle happens in the castle. Guards are searching through and through. Did we mess up? I hope not. All of that effort and time would be for nothing.

A fellow guard briefs me about the situation. He says, "The coffin of a man named Lazarus is empty and left a scent of a Daemon. We don't know where he has gone. There might be an impostor among us."

AMOGUS. . .

Sorry, I just gotta say that in my mind. Anyway, this is bad! They're gonna suspect me! I gotta work hard maintaining this cover or I'll be in deep trouble. I still gotta plant the last two Light Bombs. Better get on it while I still can.

"I'm going to warn the tower guards," I say.

"Do it, please."

We nod at each other and this is my chance. I make my way to the Darken Stones that Algron entrusted to me. Once at the top of the tower, four guards are waiting. There is a heavy thunderstorm. Thunder, strong winds, and pouring rain are making so much noise.

"Orders from the marshal!" I pant. "All guards must undergo navel checks. There is an impostor among us!"

Without hesitation, they leave their post as I pretend to be exhausted. I sneakily hide one bomb under a loose brick. Then I climb down the stairs after them. But then an idea strikes me. I stop and think about jumping roof to roof to get to the next tower. It would save us a lot of time. Also, the storm will be working to conceal me. My scent and noise will also gonna be concealed. There won't be opportunities like this. It's risky but less risky than going down. I could get caught. Even if I just made it up earlier, there is no doubt that they will do navel checks.

So, I stand on the edge of the tower and look for a roof to latch on. *Gulp* That's a long way down if I slip. *Shiver* And the storm is so cold, what the hell? Anyway, here I go.